The brightly coloured coral reefs of the Red Sea are an underwater paradise, home to dazzlingly beautiful fish and a fascinating array of other marine life.
The spiky creatures - with defensive spines up to 50cm long - are familiar to scuba divers and snorkelers who flock to the Gulf of Aqaba for its clear waters. They used to carpet parts of the region's coastal reefs.New surveys show a 90% reduction in the Jordanian resort of Aqaba, mass disappearances in Egypt and losses in Saudi Arabia, thought to be caused by a waterborne parasite.
He says sea algae will spread much faster once the urchins are gone: "Sea algae can spread way faster than corals. Corals, as we know, can grow an average of 1cm in one year. Sea algae can grow 1cm in a day!" Other experts fear a repetition of what happened 40 years ago in the Caribbean when a pathogen killed off up to 99% of a closely related species of sea urchin. A thriving coral reef turned into an algae field.Surviving pockets
While these populations - largely seen as pests - were first to be affected by the recent die-offs, there are some remaining healthy pockets which could become a broodstock, kept in captivity for eventual transfer back to their native environment.
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